ORNITIIOLOGICAI. DISCOVKR IKS 225 



There were three e,i>;i;s in the iie.sU all of a dull gloss- 

 less white, and rathei- ])()iiite(l at one end. Tlie sliells were 

 thin and had small striations oi- eorrun-atioiis riinnin*^- from 

 the ini(hlle to the small end. They measured 21 x 14.5; 21 

 X 14. .5; 20 X 14.5 mm. 



VARIED STllEAKEU EJ.VeAl'ellER 



Ein])i(I()ii()nni.s varius variiis ( Vieillot) 



Tlioui^h the ei>gs of this speeies have been eolleeted, no 

 deseription of the nest has been oiven. The genus Kiiipi- 

 donoiuus is very elosely allied to Tijranuus, so one would 

 expeet eorresponding nests. They proved to be somewhat 

 similar, but the nest of Tyratiniis thougli rather a shab])y 

 affair, was much more specialized than that of the bird in 

 (piestion. In Tyrannus the nest hollow was cup-shaped and 

 well lined with grass, and the whole structure was more 

 skillfully put together with a more careful gradation of 

 material. 



A nest of the varied flycatcher was taken on April 20, 

 from one of the outer branches of a small dead guava tree. 

 At first sight it appeared to be merely a weak flimsy plat- 

 form of twigs fashioned like the nest of a dove and placed 

 in an exposed position. If the parent birds had not been 

 seen, it mioht easily have been taken for the nest of a dove. 

 It was built in a small fork and was partly supported by a 

 dead branch that grew close by. Every puff of wind caused 

 it to sway and shake, and it was difficult to believe that it 

 would not soon fall to pieces. The basic material was small 

 twigs and vine stems. In the center was a shallow depres- 

 sion for the eggs, which was lined sparsely with coarse stems 

 of a common weed that grew hereabouts. The depth of the 

 depression was 2 cm. and the whole platform was 13 cm. in 

 diameter, by 8 cm. in height. 



There were two eggs in the nest, one of which was in- 

 fertile. ]Measin*ements averaged 28 x 16 mm. 



